NEW DELHI, April 11: India said on Monday that China’s interest in joining the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation would be considered at the next Saarc summit in Dhaka, and suggested that New Delhi had no objection in principle to the move.

Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran diclosed this at a news conference here after “highly successful” summit talks between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.

Mr Saran said that Dr Singh reminded his guest about India’s pending application to join the Shanghai Group as an observer.

“There is general agreement between the two countries that encourages participation of eahc side in regional groupings,” Mr Saran said.

He said the Saarc had to evolve a mechanism to induct new members.

The Saarc secretariat was expected to present its report on the issue at the next summit when a decision would be taken by consensus on China’s admission. Mr Saran indicated that other countries may also be included in the extended Saarc. He was possibly pointing to Afghanistan and Myanmar.